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Magento 2.3 Open Source & Commerce Features

We are all passionate about Magento 2 and all its new releases. With every update, the platform gets revolutionary features that revamp the default e-commerce experience entirely and put extension providers out of a job. And the closest major update is Magento 2.3, so let’s discuss how the new platform version may look and when it will be available.

We were amazed when 2.2.2 was released with such features as Magento Shipping, Advanced Reporting, Instant Purchases, Dotmailer Integration, and MFTF. The zero-step checkout experience was magnificent. Although the idea is not new, it was represented in Magento 2 for the first time. Registered customers no longer have to enter any address details, payment preferences, or shipping options. Furthermore, the purchase is made right on a product page. But let’s return to our mutton.

We expect that Magento 2.3 will be released somewhere in mid-2018. And it will include the following core features:

Magento 2.3: Progressive Web Apps

We have a large article dedicated to Magento 2 PWA and its core concepts here: PWA & Headless Magento 2. Magento 2 is becoming a Progressive Web Application platform, and it is no longer a secret. The new suite of tools, called the Magento PWA Studio, will be introduced with the Magento 2.3 release. It is aimed at developers who will be able to build Magento 2 PWA stores most affordably and easily.

If you are not familiar with either Magento 2 PWA or Headless Magento, here is a brief explanation of the concept. Magento 2 PWA is fast, reliable, and always available. Thus, Magento 2 PWA provides fast load time, accessibility in unclear network conditions, and offline mode. It installs and runs code on the shopper’s device radically increasing speed and capability in comparison to single-page JS applications.

Besides, Magento 2 PWA responds rapidly and provides the most smooth way of interaction with no janky scrolling. Customers get totally engaging user experience with web apps that feel like native applications and provide the even more immersive shopping.

Despite the above conditions, Magento 2 PWA is still web since the storefront is written with the help of familiar means: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Note that both domain-specific languages and native frameworks captive to one platform are eliminated simplifying the concept of Magento 2 PWA as much as possible. And since the Magento 2 PWA store lazy-loads itself, it is progressive.

The approach is fascinating and it will push both the developer and user experience forward. The new generation of storefronts will appear after the Magento 2.3 release. Customers will face the more engaging experience, and this will be a significant competitive advantage for those merchants who won’t be afraid to leverage the new concept. Fast load time and better speed, improved usability, offline mode, device-agnostic nature – all these features make Magento 2 PWA very attractive and the release of Magento 2.2 – promising.

Let’s figure out core benefits of Magento 2 PWA over other websites and proceed to other features of Magento 2.3.

Since Magento 2 PWA works even if the Internet connection is lost, the network traffic is reduced to the minimum. The use of non-blocking techniques allows keeping UI responsiveness at 60fps – a real native app experience. ServiceWorker is based on a “smart client” principle – network traffic isn’t required for every interaction.From the developer perspective, Magento 2 PWA introduces more intuitive an easy-to-use tools: the end-to-end self-education experience with a full feedback cycle, reliable quality assurance, and robust deployment are guaranteed. The idea behind the Magento 2 PWA Studio is to make Magento 2 development possible for every specialist.

Also, note that the React ecosystem integration is planned. React will be used for the JavaScript architecture in Magento 2.3 PWA stores. As a developer, you will get a top-notch experience and a broad community of specialists.

The second important improvement that should be introduced with Magento 2.3 is the BlueFoot integration. In the new platform version, it will be a part of the core code and consequently the standard functionality. The business-friendly CMS and Page Builder module allows Magento merchants to create and customise pages without any coding skills. BlueFoot supports a vast variety of content that can be modified. Thus, after Magento 2.3 is released, you will be able to customise everything from product pages to blog articles. And we expect that the new platform version will introduce the DEFAULT BLOG for the first time in the history of the Magento ecosystem. If not, you can find a reliable blog module here: The Best Magento 2 Blog Extensions.

Let’s figure out why Bluefoot is so useful that the Magento company planned the full integration with the module.

The module is totally based on the drag and drop functionality. It is extremely easy to use especially in comparison to the default WYSIWYG editor. You can effortlessly customise headers, images, products, and anything else using the intuitive drag and drop interface of BluePrint. The Magento 2.3 release enables retailers to create more complex designs and better functionality without any help from technical specialists.

The second core benefit you will soon be able to leverage is the ability to integrate products into other pages and elements. Of course, this approach to promotions is available in the current Magento 2 version, but you need technical skills to leverage the integration. From Magento 2.3, blog posts and promotion pages will introduce additional features related to products integration. With the help of the aforementioned interface, you can drag and drop products to the selected pages quickly and easily. The need to write a complex code is eliminated.

The same is about various integrations with third-party content. The Magento 2.3 release enables you to add YouTube and Vimeo videos, Google Maps, and tons of other elements to product pages, categories, and blog posts. As we’ve just mentioned, no coding skills are required. Static blocks integration is the last Bluefoot feature that should be introduced in Magento 2.3. After the new platform version is released, you will be able to add static blocks to various pages effortlessly. Consequently, the opportunity to apply any custom design to your store pages in the easiest and fastest way will be introduced soon.

Does it mean that you should fire your technical specialist after 2.3 is released? Of course, not. There still will be some complicated tasks Bluefoot won’t be able to cope with. But for small and midsized merchants the new feature will become a real budget and time-saver.

It seems that the payment system of Magento 2 will be enhanced with the release of 2.3. There is speculation of Klarna integration planned for the upcoming release. It means that customers will get additional payment options and better opportunities. First of all, Klarna introduces the ability to implement the instant checkout process. In case of this provider, it is necessary to specify address details only. Not a zero-step checkout, but also a significant improvement to the default shopping experience. Another great option is a payment within 30 days after delivery. If something is not ok with the purchased product, a customer can send it back without spending any money. Another option that makes the default Magento 2 user-experience better is spread payments. Klarna introduces an opportunity to split the payment into several parts, reducing a customer’s budget load. More than 60 million customers trust the service, so we hope it will become a part of Magento 2.3.

The integration with Amazon 3rd Party Sales Channel is also expected in Magento 2.3. It will introduce better opportunities for syncing your store and product data with Amazon. Does it mean the full access to Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment? If yes, you will be able to grow your business via the access to Amazon’s world-class fulfilment network with operational expertise and advanced shipping options. The service allows leveraging all its features for orders placed on Amazon.com, your Magento 2 store, and other sales channels. The integration with MCF is aimed to improve customer and admin experience by introducing faster delivery and simplified operations. At the same time, you get drop shipping opportunities. The service allows storing your inventory in its warehouses. As a result, you can lower your fulfilment costs. Note that Amazon offers competitive rates, scalable capacity, and the opportunity of 1-day, 2-day, or standard (3-5 business day) delivery options; inventory placement across the U.S., shipping carriers, and fulfilment by Amazon; and simplified seasonal spikes management without additional resources.

Magento 2.3: Multi-Source Inventory

Multi-Source Inventory will be essentially updated with the Magento 2.3 release. Merchants will get an opportunity to handle all inventory sources without any third-party extensions or platforms. One Magento installation will have support for multiple file sources. Besides, it will introduce better import/export conditions and simplified ERP integration. Advanced drop shipping opportunities are also a part of the planned update. Total stock control and low stock reports will be introduced in Magento 2.3 as well. It means that you will no longer have to use third-party modules to avoid situations when a product is out of stock.

RabbitMQ – is another Magento 2.3 feature. Now, it is available for Magento Commerce only. An open source message broker offers a reliable messaging system that can be characterized as highly available and scalable.

Message queues are based on an asynchronous communications mechanism. According to the specific nature of RabbitMQ, the sender and the receiver do not contact each other. Furthermore, there is no need to communicate with the message queue for both parties simultaneously. When a sender places a message onto a queue, it is stored until the recipient receives it.

Note that it is necessary to establish the message queue system before installing Magento. As a result, you have to follow the basic sequence described below:

Install RabbitMQ.

Install Magento.

Connect RabbitMQ to Magento.

Alternatively, you can implement a basic message queue system on the basis of cron.

The following video demonstrates how asynchronous APIs work over message queue. The feature is developed in collaboration with Balance Internet and Comwrap as a part of the Magento Community Engineering projects.

It seems that Magento 2.3 will push the platform to an entirely new level. The improvements mentioned above will substantially improve the current customer experience as well as introduce new opportunities for developers, merchants, and administrators. We look forward to the official release date and will update the post when more information is available.